Contax G lenses are well-known high quality, well priced and autofocus capable lenses. And thanks to the new soon to be released Techart adapter you will be able to use them with full AF and Aperture control on your A7-A7r. Just check the video on top to see how it works! That’s really good news considered we only can buy two native FE primes with AF.
Here is the list of great G lenses with links to eBay price:
Hologon 16mm; 1:8 on [shoplink 16235 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 21 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16236 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Biogon T* 28 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16237 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 35 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16238 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Planar T* 45 mm; 1:2,0 on [shoplink 16239 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Sonnar T* 90 mm; 1:2,8 on [shoplink 16240 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Vario-Sonnar T* 35 – 70 mm; 1:3,5-5,6 on [shoplink 16241 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
115 Responses
I wonder if the AF lamp works with the adapter. I really hated that sony adapter disabled the AF lamp on my nex-6.
I have done some tests on my NEX 7 and I can’t get the AF assist lamp with this adapter. If I put on one of my e mount lens then it lights up as soon as I half press the shutter.
Thanks, I guess it still disables the AF lamp. I shoot in dark clubs sometimes and need the AF lamp. This is the reason I sold my ea2 adapter
Faster than I expected.
But I need 85 or 90mm F1.4 and not 2.8 🙁
I need a 70-200 f2.8.
The best option for both of us could possibly be the LA-EA4 adapter and A-mount lenses…
A question for people: can phase detect on the a7 work with an adapted lens?
There is no 3rd party adapter that has been able to use pdaf so far.
I’m kind of mad at Sony for bringing this to market without lenses worth a sh!t. This is what keeps me from investing in the system, especially when all my APS-C lenses are now worthless. I’d be all over this is Sony had a lens line-up and flash to boot. As such, I’m forced to go with Canon for the radio flash & lens selection, or the the Nikon for the same rez and lens selection.
Sony, as usual, misses the boat and I’m sailing elsewhere.
This a new system. Did you really think that they would come out with two new cameras and 20 lenses?
Why not? Is it the same engineering team for both lens and camera body development?
If not then I think, while one team was working on the body, they could have adapted the A lens pool to the new E Mount FF camera…
There’s an adapter for that…
You can’t just make CDAF lenses by chucking a different mount on a PDAF lens – The whole thing has to be completely redesigned from scratch. Want PDAF lenses? Use the LA-EA4, simple really.
Or the LA-EA3. There are TWO new adapters.
Well you have a point regarding the lens and camera team but it’s not as simple as changing the A mount lens mount from A to E. Sure they can do that but it’ll also mean the lens will be equally huge, which defeats the purpose and I’m pretty sure, if they do that, you’ll hear people complaining about the size and weight of the lens. With E mount having such short lens to sensor distance, it’s possible to make the lens smaller and lighter while still retaining the focal length and optical quality needed.
My guess is, Sony lens designers is working with Olympus lens designers to make it happen. Olympus is the master at making smaller than usual lens with excellent optical quality. Just look at their OM SLR lenses.
I very much doubt they are working with Olympus for lenses. The OM has a M43 sensor which over three times smaller than the A7 sensor. Leica is the master of the small lens.
Also, you can’t expect a new system to have tons of lenses. If you wanted that, you could wait four more years for them to design them and make then and then have your camera. If you wanted 20 lenses, you have a premium on your camera and lenses for the 10x more engineers and designers they had to hire to get it done.
Leica lenses are all primes + they aren’t autofocus lenses. So stop comparing them to any other modern system out there. Maybe they use some better or more glass on less space to achieve making small lenses, but thats what makes hem cost 2000-10.000$ each… I rather pay 1000$ for modern FE lenses, even if they’re slightly bigger.
It’s very much possible actually, of course we’ll never know unless an industry insider actually made a statement. Just in case people forgot, Sony is now Olympus largest shareholder. And this is one of their bailout agreements:
“The two companies also aim to enhance their competitiveness, primarily in the area of compact digital cameras, by exploring opportunities for mutually beneficial transactions and collaboration between their respective camera businesses, including the supply of Olympus technologies such as camera lenses and mirror cells to Sony, and the provision of Sony image sensors to Olympus.”
So I’m not surprise if the EM-1 EVF came from Sony.
And Hans is right, Leica only make rangefinder manual lenses, and at the price they are charging for their lens, it allows them to use more exotic glass which makes their lenses small, heck even Zeiss rangefinder manual lenses are small as well.
Also you’re mistaken regarding the OM, I’m not referring to the OM-D, I’m referring to the old film 35 OM (the OM-D actually means digital version of their 35mm SLR film OM series)
@Adam
Please Sony/Oly… revive the original OM DSLR with the legendary viewfinder. I don’t care if it’s a premium product, its existence alone will be good enough for me.
Sony and Olympus would be retarded beyond all logic if they are not working on Olympus bodies and lenses for the FE system. Of course they are working on this.
new cameras WERE NOT NEEDED. Perhaps they should have just fixed all the issues with the existing ones? Expanded the A Mount and E mount lens selections? Much better choice that starting stupid new line of cameras with no lenses and no future.
People wanted a Full Frame NEX and Sony delivered. And how is the A7/r stupid cameras and no future? The making of these 2 cameras has been the most exciting yet on the full frame photographic market, no longer you need to get a Leica M for a mirrorless full frame camera!
+1
+1
no matter how the development thereafter,
A7/R is a very remarkable product which bring the FF handy camera to the market.
I have invested a lot in Canon with over 20 lens as well as M43 but I still being attracted by A7/R.
With this new camera,
1. picture quality
2. portable
3. compatible to old lens, like Lecia M, Contax G. That makes i can play with my old lens full of fun
Yes, because they didn’t just announce 5 new E-Mount lenses and an updated A-Mount lens, like what? 2 weeks ago?
Keep buying Sony, they aint losing money since 2008. lol. Sony is as dead as the walkman.
They should have come out with the six standards in 2.8 (16-35, 24-70, 70-200, 35, 50 & 85).
Duh.
You might have been happy with a 50/2.8, but I doubt anyone else would have. People also would have complained about the price of a 70-200/2.8 as the initial telephoto.
What they have is:
35/2.8 (so you got one of your wishes)
a 55/1.8 (close to 50, and a lot faster than 2.8)
24-70/4 (again, straight 2.8 would have been (more) expensive, and BIG)
70-200/4
So, the only things really missing from your list are the 85 and the wide zoom.
The Sony/Zeiss 16-35 2.8 is $2000. It’s a nice lens, but, again, I think most people would probably want a smaller and less expensive initial offering in this range. For the 85, 2.8 seems too slow (IMO).
I can’t recall if Nex or Fuji X system launched first. But look at Fuji, they already have a rather good lens lineup. Where is Sony?
NEX launched first.
Sony E-mount APS-C now has:
16/2.8 pancake + UWA and Fish Eye
20/2.8 pancake
30/3.5 macro
16-50/3.5-5.6 OSS power zoom collapsible
16-70/4 Zeiss
18-55/3.5-5.6 OSS
24/1.8 Zeiss
35/1.8 OSS
50/1.8 OSS
10-18/4 OSS
18-200/3.5-6.3 OSS in several variants including a power zoom version
18-105/4 G OSS power zoom
55-210/4.5-6.3
Plus 3rd party AF lenses from Sigma and Zeiss
*Talking shit about 3 Carl Zeiss lenses*
I assume they don’t have enough employees and factory space to work on all lens at the same time. It would be the same with Canon and Nikon if they had a new system and Lens.
It would not be the same as Canon and Nikon coming out with a new lens system. You see, they weren’t dumb enough to come out with their top quality cameras in a new full frame mount. They have all the awesome legacy glass that blows the A7r’s paltry lens selection out of the water. Really? Reaalllly.
okay, so where are those Nikon 1 and Canon EOS-M lenses? It’s the same, all companies will take time to fill up their lineup, m4/3rd started the same way too. And how long do you think it took Canon and Nikon to fully complete their lens lineup?
All the awesome legacy glass, ROFL.
The E mount accepts ALL legacy glass as long as there’s an adapter (which there are many types and choices to choose, from different manufacturers and pricepoint), I would like to see you mount Leica lenses on that Canon/Nikon body of yours.
Have a good trip.
No! You have a good trip! As short as it might be with only 3 lenses.
I guess that Sony should have delayed the cameras introduction until you approved their lens lineup. I forgot, the lenses that will be available within the next few months are worthless.
Anyway, good to see that my three Contax G lenses might just work with the new bodies. I cancelled my A7r order, but will revisit this after Sony’s camera roadmap fleshes out.
The sky is falling.
You cancelled your A7 order, huh? Because the lack of glass, eh? You’ve proven my point.
worthless? did they suddenly stop taking photos when the A7 was announced. if they aren’t worth anything to you then would you mind sending them to me?
Give me your name and address and their yours.
I’ll take those worthless lenses off your hands for five bucks each.
Actually, I’m just going to throw them away.
‘because all my APS-C lenses are now worthless”
And this is different to other systems how?
Noobie knob
Not a noobie you fool. Actually, quite an expert and Sony would hate to find out who is bashing their gear.
Bahahahahaha! Spoken like a true child 😉
Still didn’t answer my question though, so i’ll do it for you.
How do you go mounting a Canon EF-S lens on a FF 5D, 6D, 1D? Oh what’s that? You can’t? How about an EF-M lens? Yeah good luck!
What about Nikon then? What happens when you mount a DX lens on a FF D600, D800, D4? Oh it goes into crop mode? Wow what a shock.
Yeah Sony are terrible making it so your crop sensor lenses don’t work on full frame.
I’ll say it again: Noobie Knobend.
Oh, poor little angry MDBarf. Are you still at it? Are you still pissing other ppl off with your fanboy comments and your” listen, i have all the cameras in every system and this sucks cause i said so”? LOL. Grow up little inferiority complex man. LOL
self called experts trolling sonyalpharumors scare the shit out of sony…
I feel the same way. Sony make a complete lens sets. With all these lens adapters sony shows us it is not serious in providing us what we need in lenses. I will not be fooled twice. I’m still waiting for a sony 85 1.8 OSS for emount no adapters.
Am I just one of few customers that need just A7R and 35mm f2.8 Zeiss for sake of compactness, low weight, convenient focal length and amazing image quality on FF sensor? I just don’t care about how many other lenses are avialble for this camera. Lucky I :-).
Sounds like a professional photographer who doesn’t care about the flash system, wobbly tripod mount, focus speed and accuracy, mottled JPGs, etc. Enjoy your hobby, fool.
Erm, there are professional photographers who shoots purely natural light, they don’t care about flash system.
Focus speed and accuracy? The A7/r might not be the fastest AF camera around but contrast detect is surely accurate!
mottled JPGs? I guess your glasses need fixing, if anything the A7/r JPEG is the best Sony ever made and could be on par or even better the Nikon/Canon JPEG processing
Not just on par, this time it’s better. Look at how many reviews mention Sony jpgs look sharper “probably due to a better processing”. Sony-Oly partnership is finally producing results.
I do not care about all you mentioned. I shot weddings with a Canon 6D and a Canon 50L in natural light only, using only manual focus. For that reason I’m switching to an A7 with Leica glass, to be able to use the Leica Noctilux f1 e60 with easy manual focus (on Leica bodies the Noctilux blocks part of the viewfinder tue to its size, and I never had great feeling with the rangefinder).
Wow, only manual with DSLR? Respect!
On another note, why the A7 and not the A7r since AF is not important? Somehow I really wished the A7 doesnt come with AA filter, I really like images coming out from cameras without AA filter, seem to give an extra pop to the images.
a7 over a7r:
– larger pixels should give higher dynamic range;
– larger pixels should give less diffraction issues stopped down;
– initial reports show adapted glass more compliant;
– price in € more rationalized (vs $, £ – for when you sell it next year after they bring it out sans AA).
Bulls%%t. DR and diffraction have nothing to do with pixel size.
A7 cannot be better for legacy glass due to AA filter, which will produce smearing on the edges (which, unlike colorshift, you cannot fix). Don’t you remember Leicas don’t have AA filters at all (even 18 mpx M9)
True advantages of A7 over A7R are OSPDAF, more fps and 1st elec. shutter curtain.
Diffraction is dependant of pixel-size and aperture. The higher aperture, the more diffraction becomes an issue and the larger the pixel-size, the less diffraction is an issue.
Boooe – evidently, you arrogance is only superseded by your ignorance.
Hopefully, it is not too late for you to educate yourself:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/tools-toys/pixels-size-matters
“…larger pixels and image sensors enhance image quality by producing a higher signal-to-noise ratio, greater dynamic range (the ability to capture details in the highlights and shadows)…”
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography-2.htm
“At low f-stop values, the width of this airy disk is typically much smaller than the width of a camera pixel, so your pixel size is all that determines the camera’s maximum resolution. However, at high f-stop values, the width of this airy disk can surpass* that of your camera’s pixels — in which case your camera’s resolution is said to be “diffraction limited.” Under such a scenario, the resolution of your camera is determined only by the width of this airy disk, and this resolution will always be less than the pixel resolution.”
The “Diffraction Limited Aperture Calculator” from the above article suggests that for a 36mp ff sensor “Diffraction May Become Visible” at f/7.4, while for a 24mp ff sensor “Diffraction May Become Visible” at f/9.
Well you’re probably right about the diffraction part cause that is what landscape photographers complained about the D800/e when it first appeared. But regarding low light and DR, apparently it’s not that clear cut as it has been proven that the D800 has as good as or even better High ISO performance then the 12mp D700 which has larger pixel pitch then the D800. And the D800 currently has the best Dynamic Range even with its Small pixel pitch, so something is definitely going on here.
Also it seems that the A7r sensor is as good or slightly better then the one found in the D800 and I think DxO recent test concluded that it has either the same or similar variant sensor to the D800e. Also from Camera Labs JPEG sample, it seems the high ISO noise is comparable to the A7, and due to the higher mp, downscaling the A7r result will provide slightly more detail then the A7.
Now I wonder if the A7r comes with mRaw, similar to Canon. Cause I won’t need to shoot at 36mp all the time and would wish to have a smaller RAW file 🙁
Another interesting part is moire is not much of an issue on a 36mp vs 24mp (providing both are without AA/OLPF filter) due to the denser pixel density. Pros and cons :roll eyes:
Manual focusing is just a matter of practice.
I went for the A7 because of the cost and of the fact it still will have the second best FF sensor around, which is good enough for me IQ wise.
It also looks like it’s working better with leica wide angle glass because of the bigger pixels.
Adam – check DxO again. They rate the 24mp d610 higher than a7r in both “Dynamic Range” and “Low-Light ISO”.
Also, d610 (with AA) even beats RX1R (without) – Sony having trouble implementing their own sensor?
I stand corrected, interesting that it has lower DR then the D800E, I guess something about manufacturer sacrificing shadow for highlights has to do with it. And I guess it still shows that Nikon is the leader in high-ISO, though I wonder why they didn’t manage to test the A7 sensor.
But in terms of color depth, it’s on par as the D800e and higher then the D610.
I’d take DXOMark’s ratings with a pinch of salt – these are off sensor readings, final quality depends on the lens mounted on the camera, sensor is just a recording device, glass is what is important
Your best camera right now is an aps-c sony nex… what makes you think you know anything or that your opinion matters? Lol
what a noob
Blah, blah, blah. Go troll your mum.
+1000
only 2 native lenses this month! I canceled A7 order until next year, to bad they release a SLOW prime lens first.
Aperture control… how do they do that?
Actually they can’t as the only connection is AF, you still need to set the aperture manually!
Rather irresponsible telling people to buy the 16mm and 21mm as these probably won’t work on the A7 body. Even the 28mm is not certain as it will fit on the body but so far results from it are looking variable!
Maybe what they mean is that you CAN control the aperture, rather than lenses like the Nikon G series lenses where there is no ring. I guess this means that you will always be in aperture priority or manual mode, as the camera has no way to automatically adjust the aperture. But, the camera meters through the lens, so there isn’t much difference.
Also, because you can use AutoISO in manual mode on this camera, you still have a pseudo-shutter priority mode. You just set the f-stop and crank the shutter to whatever you want and the ISO will move to keep your exposure level.
Fantastic !! Sony is the Best simply !!
Actually, Nikon is the best.
No Canon.
Please, Leica is the best.
No, I am the best!
the Hasselblad Lunar is the best. How many canons have jewels in the movie button?
Andrea this is the A7 not the A7r. Maybe it’ worth mentioning it as AF performance might be different.
It is the A7r, look at 0:12 in those Video!
Does Contax G focus always produce such noise?? Damn it is loud…
its the adapter thats loud. The lenses are nearly silent. Contax g2 and lenses are probably one of the quietest shutter camera systems EVER.
ehm….
ehm what? Even on the G2 its the camera body motor that makes the noise not the lens.
Shouldn’t he be wearing ear protection? Was that a sonic boom or just the A7r shutter noise?
The sound of the focus is because the Contax G lenses use an external motor drive focus. And in this case the motor is in the adaptor. So the sound of the focus doesn’t have anything directly to do with the camera.
I have this adapter on my NEX 7 and it works great with my G21(purple corners), G28, G35-70(purple corners), and G90. My G45 doesn’t work and mxcamera tell me it sounds like there is a bad connection between the lens and adapter.
Yeah g28 just useless. (might be on a7/a7r but we will see)
http://blog.calumetphoto.com/2013/09/photo-of-the-week-24-september-2013/
wrong place sorry
I wish I could get a Sony sensor optimized by Nikon in the body of a Canon with Nikon Glass and Canon flashes.
That would be the bomb.
Which canon and nikon lenses have you used and compared to come to your conclusion? Lol
and the Award “Troll of the Day” goes to…. SonyMonster!
Gratulations, you win. Now go away!
I wish Andrea would implement a thumbs up and thumbs down to oblivion feature.
Also a very good candidate for “Troll of the Year”
I would be hesitant to put my G28 on FF. The edges will be distorted and smeared. In the film days, I mostly used the G45 and rarely put the G28 on the G2. I guess the FF CMOS is not going the improve the G28’s optics.
How do you know until you use it on the camera.
G28 on NEX 7
http://blog.calumetphoto.com/2013/09/photo-of-the-week-24-september-2013/
Beautiful shot in a beautiful place. I also love the Contax G lenses on my NEX 7 and am looking forward to using them on my A7R when it arrives next month. I do get purple fringing when I shoot the 28 wide-open, but it is usually not a problem at the apertures I use. What was the aperture in your shot? My 45 & 90 are both fantastic, even wide open. I have the original TechArt adapter – MXCamera offered to upgrade to ver 2, but also told me both ver 1 & ver 2 should work fine on FF. It is the ver2 adapter used in the video.
David
But be aware of magenta corners with the shorter Contax lenses!!
What is all this business about a “wobbly tripod mount?” I have seen it in the comments of SAR a few times, but I have never seen it in any reviews.
Is this a real issue?
I own a NEX 7 and this will only be an issue if only you mount front heavy lenses (usually adapted SLR lenses have this issue), the reason why this happen is cause Sony made the NEX body too thin and didn’t have a bottom rubber surface, hence the contact surface to the QR plate is much less then a DSLR. Anti Twisting QR plates, will solve this problem.
As the A7 have a different dimension and probably be of better build, this might not be an issue at all. But rest assured, as long as your lens is not overly front heavy, this will not be a issue 🙂
Thanks!
No prob, I doubt it’ll be any issue if you mount native E mount lenses or M mount lenses.
Look at the base of a NEX with the curve of the mount so low – the flat area around the tripod hole is tiny and smooth plastic – it doesn’t offer any real grip for a tripod plate without feeling you’ve tightened it to the point where you might break it.
You can buy adaptor plates that match the curve of the mount and are more stable, but it’s an aspect of the camera that seems designed for looks and not for practical use.
I have fixed it with a $0.10 furniture pad ( like the one you put on your chair legs so it won’t scratch wooden floor). I’ve chosen a one nice black square-ish pad, cut it into thinner layer (without the adhesive) and it works perfectly. Rubberized or cork one would be even better. It’s hardly a cameras fault that his quick release plate fails to get a grip.. Sometimes you just have to use brainpower..
i don’t want to buy nikon df therefore I’m not visiting nikon forums and not trashing on it…
what are you doing here if you dislike the camera so much? and sony apparently…
Very nice.
the adaptor is only workable fine on large aperture of G lens such as 2.8 4 or 5.6 , worse at small aperture. Thus, this adaptor is not the appropriate one at this moment !!!
Most autofocus systems don’t work beyond about f5.6; they need a certain amount of light to work properly which is why adding teleconverters often drop you back to manual focus.
So not something that any other adaptors are likely to do better, but these are manual aperture lenses, so you could always focus at a wider aperture and stop down if you need to.
I’m using the techart adapter on my nex-6 with a full range of contax-g glass, and it’s worth it even if you just manual focus, the focusing by wire through the stepper motor is really useful!
Agree – have mine turned to full time MF. It is easier and quicker than the AF.
David
Wo it works like the manual focusing on the G2?
I’m not familiar with how it worked MF on the G2 (just have a G1). It is similar to the G1, except the focus wheel is on the adapter vice the top of the camera, and you use focus peaking/zoom vice rangefinder confirmation. To switch the adapter between full time AF and MF, you set the camera aperture to f25 and take a shot – do same again to switch back.
David
So how fine are these Contax G lenses. 90m f2.8 or 45. f2.0?
Sharp wide open, or?
Widely considered the best Range finder lenses ever made.
nope, cron 90 is better
The sumicron 90 is not better. They are always listed as equals by most reviewers. As in they can’t tell the difference enough to say one is better then the other. The G2 lens does better in adverse environments because they are TITANIUM.
The 45mm f2 is the sharpest lens I’ve ever shot, and from what I’ve read, is considered one of the sharpest lenses ever made. The 90mm f2.8 is IMO fabulous for portraits. The 90mm is still a great deal on the used market, typically less than $300.
David
they are really nice. I own the 28, 45, & 90mm. Highly recommended but that said I don’t think they are better than the Zeiss FE lenses. From what I’ve seen the 55mm is sharper wide open than the 45–but then it is twice as much and a much newer design.
I think that compared to the APS-C E-mount Zeiss lenses these new ones are a super value.
1/ Does anyone know where the Techart factory and company are situated? Can we get contact details?
2/ Contax G lenses by Zeiss are simply the best lenses ever made for 35mm cameras. But sadly, they become degraded when adapted to digital. The issue is acuity, the angle of incidence as the light ray meets the digital imager. Lenses for 35mm have incidence that is too high for digital. This will be noticeable by fringing and colour casts (the magenta shift problem), as the lens’ focal length decreases. For the G 90mm and 45mm the effects are slight and often not noticeable. For 35mm and 28mm, the effects become profound. Not a lens problem: it’s a digital imager problem. Thus, Sony had to radically engineer their imager, and Zeiss had to re-engineer their lenses, to create a matched system.
3/ I think the A7 with Zeiss is a very impressive combination, and for the first time in history begins to close the IQ gap between film and digital. I wish I did not have to wait 30 years for this.
4/ But with the new imaging tech being incorporated into mobile phones these days, I do wonder if the days of conventional cameras are numbered.